IAEA chief visits Japan to examine Fukushima wastewater release and discuss peaceful use of nuclear energy

Aiming to facilitate discussions on enhancing cooperation with Japan to advance the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy and strengthen measures against nuclear proliferation, the head of the United Nations atomic agency is in Japan to examine discharges of treated radioactive wastewater from the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

This is the trip of Director-General Grossi to Japan since the commencement of the treated water releases in August. Additionally, it coincides with Japan commemorating the 13th anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which precipitated the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

“This date has a special meaning in Japan,” Grossi said as he met with Japanese Environment Minister Shintaro Ito, his first in a series of talks with top Japanese officials planned for the three-day visit.

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The disaster caused many difficulties, but also led to “strengthening of the links and the cooperation between the IAEA and Japan,” Grossi said.

A massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 damaged the Fukushima plant’s power supply and reactor cooling functions, triggering triple meltdowns and causing large amounts of radioactive wastewater to accumulate. After more than a decade of cleanup work, the plant began discharging the water after treating it and diluting it with large amounts of seawater on Aug. 24, starting a process that’s expected to take decades.

The discharges have been strongly opposed by fishing groups and neighbouring countries including China, which banned all imports of Japanese seafood immediately after the release began.

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Japan has sought the IAEA’s help with safety monitoring and evaluation to allay concerns over the discharge plan.

Grossi is expected to examine the discharge facility on Wednesday after meeting with residents. He last visited the plant in July after issuing an IAEA review predicting only negligible impact from the discharges. The IAEA comprehensive report later also concluded that the discharges have so far satisfied international safety standards.

Grossi will also meet with Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Economy and Industry Minister Ken Saito to discuss cooperation in nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, North Korea and Iran as well as peaceful use of atomic energy, Japanese officials said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government has reversed earlier plans for a nuclear phaseout and is accelerating use of nuclear power in response to rising fuel costs stemming from Russia’s war on Ukraine and pressure to meet decarbonization goals.

Japan also wants to provide financial support for the IAEA’s effort to protect Ukrainian nuclear plants from Russia’s ongoing war, officials said.

Japan and the IAEA are also cooperating on the disposal of radioactive soil from Fukushima.

The Japanese government, stuck with massive amounts of soil unearthed during reconstruction and cleanup work outside of the Fukushima plant, is struggling to find disposal methods. A plan to recycle it for road construction and other public works after safety tests have met fierce protests.

The soil has been stored in an interim storage facility in Fukushima. The government has promised a final disposal plan outside of the prefecture by 2045.

A preliminary IAEA report last year supported the soil recycling plan but stressed the need for public trust. A final report is expected this summer.

With inputs from Reuters.